5 Lessons I learned from Dr. Seuss

Today is the day Dr. Seuss was born. Let’s all tip our hats and blow our horns!Theodor Seuss Geisel was his name at birth. And, he left many lessons for us here on earth! Hip, hip hooray for our Lutheran friend, life lessons to learn so let us begin! —by Valora K Starr

I love Dr. Seuss, and I never pass up an opportunity to share Horton Hears a Who! or Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose (two of his 46 books that I grew up reading) with my tiniest friends.

Theodor Seuss Geisel grew up Lutheran, and I imagine his days in Sunday school and confirmation, in Christmas and Easter pageants, and living out the theology of grace helped him shape the lessons we still hear today.

I learned hospitality and standing up for myself and others from Thidwick, kindness and equality from Horton, and obeying the law and justice from Bartholomew Cubbins, the hero of two of his children’s books.

Reading and reciting these crazy poems from Dr. Seuss helped me learn these lessons early. We can certainly take Dr. Seuss’ lead and use his books as nap or bedtime stories (it’s a proven fact that if you want to remember something read it before sleeping). And, reading these stories with a strong moral message, real life situations, problem solving and solid principles will help our children grow up better able to navigate negative influences and images in the media, and in their toys and games.

So, remember and take to heart these quotes from Dr. Seuss: 1. “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” 2. “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” 3. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” 4. “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” 5. “Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered.”